Shinzo Abe was giving a campaign speech near a train station in the city of Nara when he was hit by gunfire.
The Japanese government will spend about 1.65 billion yen ($12 million) on a state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated on July 8, according to latest government estimates, which include the costs of security measures and reception of guests.
At the end of August, the government announced a much smaller budget for this funeral public expenditure, amounting to 250 million gen. But he was criticized for this amount, which was considered unrealistic and did not include the expenses for the security and hospitality of Japan’s dignitaries.
The government of Fumio Kishida now estimates that spending on security measures will amount to 800 million yen and that on hosting foreign delegations to about 600 million yen, government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said.
“If we were to make a simplified estimate, I guess the total (expenditure) would be close to what you said,” the government spokesman replied when asked if the cost to the public would actually be around 1.7 billion yen.
About 6,000 guests are expected to attend the ceremony, scheduled for September 27 in Tokyo. That number includes members of 190 foreign delegations; some 50 countries will send their heads of state or top government officials, according to Mr. Matsuno.
Shinzo Abe was giving a campaign speech near a train station in the city of Nara when he was hit by gunfire.
Opposition to the public funeral expense of the Liberal Democratic Party politician, who was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister but divided Japanese public opinion, is widespread and persistent. It escalated after revelations about Shinzo Abe and other ruling party officials’ ties to the controversial Unification Church. Fumio Kishida’s popularity is on the decline due to the revelations.
“We decided to release this assessment as part of the Prime Minister’s effort (…) to clarify all the details” of the state funeral, the government spokesman said.
The man accused of killing Shinzo Abe testified that he was furious with the religious organization, known for its mass weddings and ultra-aggressive fundraising practices, and believed the former prime minister had ties to it, according to Japanese media.
A poll conducted on behalf of the Yomiuri newspaper this month indicated that 56% of Japanese oppose holding a state funeral, while 38% are in favor.
RES-EMP
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